HARDER THAN IT LOOKS

Chapter 21

We arrive at the airport after about a half of an hour. My mom asks a young airport employee which plane is coming in from California. They tell her that Kelsey and Meghan's flight has been delayed by ten hours due to a major earthquake in California. We find and empty corner and all sit down. My mom begins reading her book. My dad brings out his iPad and plays Candy Crush. Braden grabs his phone and goes on Instagram.

"Can I play Flappy Bird?" Camden asks with his adorable little brown eyes looking up at me.

I hand him my phone. Because I have nothing to do, I stare of in space. We wait like this for a full hour. People come and people go. One person in particular looks very far familiar to me. Alex! I get up and run towards him. "Alex!" I call.

He looks up. He is wearing an orange T-shirt, black shorts, and Adidas sandals. He looks exhausted. He smiles. "Hey."

"Where have you been? Why didn't you tell anyone?" I push him with questions.

He tells his parents that he will meet them in the cafeteria in ten minutes. "My aunt died of cancer. We knew she had cancer, but her death was very unexpected." He looks sad again. "We left the minute we found out. We flew out to Washington for the funeral and to be with her husband and kids."

"I am so sorry." I say. I tell him that his dog is at my house and that he can go get him by using the spare key. "Is that why you were wearing a suit the other day?"

He nods. "I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok." I walk back to my parents. Camden is sleeping softly. "Hey." I whisper. "You guys can sleep too." I offer looking at my parents. Boy do they look tired. "Me and Braden will watch for Meghan and Kelsey."

"Braden and I." Braden says. I roll my eyes. The finally agree. We sit like this for hours. Him on Instagram, and me playing NBA Jam on my phone. I grow tired. Braden can tell. "Let me watch." He whispers. I begin to protest, but I fall asleep.